TECHNOLOGY & DATA
The evolution of battery technology
Bob Pigott, Vice President, Global Sales – Motive at Trojan Battery Company, shows us how to choose the right power solution for electrified equipment.
As commercial cleaning equipment continues evolving, so does the technology powering it. Electrification is a defining trend across the professional cleaning industry, with machines designed to deliver greater productivity, manoeuvrability and efficiency. At the centre of that evolution is the battery.
For cleaning equipment manufacturers and operators, the battery is more than an energy source. Battery performance influences equipment uptime, productivity, maintenance and total cost of ownership (TCO). As a result, selecting the right technology requires a close look at how the equipment is actually used. For example, cleaning equipment used in a warehouse has completely different requirements than one for healthcare facilities.
From flooded lead-acid to advanced AGM
For decades, flooded lead-acid batteries have been a proven power source for motive applications, including floor scrubbers, cleaners, sweepers and burnishers. Advances in battery technology, however, have created new options for operators looking to address changing equipment requirements and operational demands.
Absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology represents one significant evolution. Unlike conventional flooded batteries, AGM batteries are valve-regulated and designed to be maintenance-free, eliminating the need for routine watering. Advanced AGM technologies, such as Trojan Battery’s AES AGM, are engineered to deliver reliable performance while addressing some operational challenges associated with traditional battery technologies. AES AGM batteries deliver up to 3x the cycle life versus standard AGM, maintain high capacity in extreme deep-cycling (up to 100% DoD), offer partial charging and perform in extreme environments.
Advancements include longer cycle life, greater charging flexibility, reduced maintenance and improved energy and power density. For cleaning operations, those benefits can translate into less time spent managing batteries and more time focused on completing the job.
What should operators consider?
Choosing an AGM battery – or any battery technology – should begin with the application. Operators must consider several factors when evaluating their best power solution:
• Cycle life is particularly important for frequently used equipment. Batteries capable of supporting repeated charge and discharge cycles help reduce battery replacement frequency and contribute to lower lifecycle costs.
48 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING
• Charging practices are also important. Charging frequency, time and available infrastructure all influence which battery technology is best for the application.
• Consider capacity and power requirements. Amp- hour ratings are important, but should be evaluated in the context of the equipment’s actual duty cycle. For example, the 20-hour amp-hour rating of the Trojan T-105 6V, T-875 8V and T-1275 12V batteries give them greater energy storage and longer runtimes than options with lower amp-hour ratings. Selecting a battery based solely on this may not provide a complete picture of how it will perform in a specific application.
• Maintenance requirements are other factors. Traditional flooded batteries require regular watering and maintenance, while maintenance-free AGM technology can help simplify battery management and reduce the labour associated with routine service.
• Finally, operators should evaluate TCO, rather than focusing on initial purchase price. Battery lifespan, maintenance, charging requirements, replacement costs and equipment utilisation all contribute to the overall economics of a battery investment.
Matching technology to the job
There’s no universal battery solution for every cleaning application. AGM and lithium-ion technologies each offer their advantages, and the right choice will depend on the operating environment.
AGM can be the smart choice for cleaning equipment applications where reliability, proven technology and TCO are priorities. Lithium-ion, meanwhile, can offer advantages in high-utilisation applications where energy density, charging flexibility and reduced maintenance are key considerations.
The most effective approach is to evaluate equipment’s complete operating profile and select the technology which best balances performance, reliability, safety and cost.
As commercial cleaning equipment becomes increasingly electrified, battery technology becomes even more important. By looking beyond the battery’s upfront cost and evaluating how it performs over the entire operating cycle, cleaning professionals can make smarter power decisions – helping equipment work more efficiently today while preparing operations for the demands of tomorrow.
www.trojanbattery.com
x.com/TomoCleaning
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
